Projects

RFDs are DNA sequences that induce a cleavage (cutting) reaction in a substrate strand in response to the presence of a target. In this project, we at saiwa team segmented and measured regions of interest (the dots that constitute the microarray) relative to the background in printed RFD images. Printed microarrays can be used to test for the presence of specific targets (i.e., bacteria). We used around 100 RFD images that were provided by Didar Lab., McMaster uni.​

For a long time, product quality control relies on manual examination in the manufacturing field. In the past several decades, automated surface inspection (ASI) have become more widespread as hardware and software technologies have developed rapidly. To lower labor costs and enhance examination efficiency, more factories start to employ embedded machines for product inspection. ASI platforms use special light sources and industrial cameras to capture the images of the product surface, and machine/computer vision technologies to filter out defective products, which can reduce labor greatly. High-performance cross-product ASI algorithms are urgently needed in manufacturing.

European water chestnut (Trapa natans) is an invasive floating-leaved aquatic plant that is capable of out-competing native species and altering Ontario’s aquatic ecosystems. In addition to ongoing control of known populations in Ontario, this species is designated as a “Prohibited Species” in Ontario under the Invasive Species Act, 2015 to aid in prevention, detection and control of the species. Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) performs surveillance and control of this species in eastern Ontario in attempts to eradicate existing populations and prevent the establishment of new ones.